Phlox plant named ‘Verscan’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Phlox , ‘Verscan’, characterized by its very dwarf and compact plant habit, its bi-colored flowers that are bright red-purple and white in color, its leaves with a thick substance, its healthy plant growth, its strong basal branching, and its low susceptibility to powdery mildew.

Botanical classification: Phlox paniculata.

Cultivar designation: ‘Verscan’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phloxplant, botanically known as Phlox paniculata ‘Verscan’ and will bereferred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘Verscan’. The new cultivarrepresents a new herbaceous perennial grown for landscape use.

The Inventor discovered ‘Verscan’ as a chance seedling in August of 2011in a field planted with various Phlox cultivars and unnamed proprietaryPhlox plants in Haarlem, The Netherlands. The parentage of ‘Verscan’ istherefore unknown.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by stemcuttings in Haarlem, The Netherlands in September of 2011 by theInventor. Asexual propagation by stem cuttings and division hasdetermined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable andare reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘Verscan’ as a unique cultivar of Phlox.

-   -   1. ‘Verscan’ exhibits a dwarf and compact plant habit.    -   2. ‘Verscan’ exhibits bi-colored flowers that are bright        red-purple and white in color.    -   3. ‘Verscan’ exhibits leaves with a thick substance.    -   4. ‘Verscan’ exhibits strong basal branching.    -   5. ‘Verscan’ exhibits some resistance to powdery mildew.    -   6. ‘Verscan’ exhibits healthy plant growth.

‘Verscan’ can be compared to the cultivars ‘Peppermint Twist’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 18,196) and ‘Candy Floss’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,163).‘Peppermint Twist’ is similar to ‘Verscan’ in having flowers that arebi-color and in having some resistance to powdery mildew. ‘PeppermintTwist’ differs from ‘Verscan’ in having stems that are longer in length,in having flowers that are pinker in color, and in having less basalbranching. ‘Candy Ross’ is similar to ‘Verscan’ in branching habit andin having resistance to powdery mildew. ‘Candy Ross’ differs from‘Verscan’ in having flowers that are not bi-colored and coral pink incolor and in having stems that are longer in length.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Phlox. The photographs weretaken of an 18 month-old plant (from an un-rooted cutting) of ‘Verscan’as field grown in Haarlem, The Netherlands and placed in a container forthe photographs.

The photograph in FIG. 1 is a view of a plant of ‘Verscan’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 is a close-up view of an inflorescence of‘Verscan’.

The Photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of a leaf of‘Verscan’.

The colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describethe colors of the new Phlox.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of 18 month-old plants (from anun-rooted cutting) of the new cultivar as field grown in Haarlem, TheNetherlands. The plants were grown under average day temperatures of 14°C. to 30° C. and average night temperatures of 8° C. to 18° C. Thephenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental,climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under allpossible environmental conditions. The color determination is inaccordance with The 2015 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal HorticulturalSociety, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinarydictionary significance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—Early July to September in the Netherlands.        -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial.        -   Plant habit.—Very dwarf and compact.        -   Height and spread.—Reaches an average of 30 cm in height and            about 40 cm in spread in the landscape.        -   Hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zones 4 to 9.        -   Diseases.—Has shown some resistance (less susceptibility            when grown under the same circumstances as other cultivars)            to powdery mildew caused by Erysiphe cichoracea.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate.        -   Propagation.—Stem cuttings, division also possible.        -   Root initiation.—About 30 days in summer.        -   Root development.—About 28 weeks from a rooted cutting to            fully develop in a 1.5 liter container.-   Stem description:    -   -   Branching habit.—Flowering stems and lateral branches grow            from base.        -   Stem quantity.—Average of 10 flowering stems.        -   Stem size.—12.3 cm in length (excluding inflorescence),            average of 3 mm in diameter.        -   Stem shape.—Round.        -   Stem strength.—Strong.        -   Stem color.—144B.        -   Stem surface.—Glabrous and moderately glossy.        -   Stem aspect.—Held in an average angle of 45° to soil level            (=0°), varying between 40° and 60°.        -   Internode length.—An average of 2.2 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Basal flowering stems, well-branched.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic and slightly carinate.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf base.—Truncate.        -   Leaf apex.—Apiculate.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, upper side 144A to 144B, lower side            144C.        -   Leaf margins.—Slightly revolute, entire, very finely            serrate, not visible, but can feel they are there.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf surface.—Very slightly rugose, upper side very slightly            glossy, lower side matte.        -   Leaf color.—Young upper surface; 143A, young lower surface;            143B, mature upper surface; NN137A, mature lower surface;            147B.        -   Leaf size.—An average of 7.4 cm in length and 3.2 cm in            width.        -   Leaf quantity.—An average of 12 (6 pairs).        -   Petioles.—V-shaped, an average of 2.5 mm in height, 4 mm in            width and 2.5 mm in length, N144D in color, both surfaces            are glabrous.-   Flower description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Compound terminal panicle.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—About 3 to 4 weeks from the            opening of the first flower to senescence of last flower,            individual flower lasts about 10 days.        -   Inflorescence size.—An average of 10 cm in height and width.        -   Flower fragrance.—Moderate, sweet and pleasant phlox            fragrance.        -   Flower number.—Average of 90 per inflorescence.        -   Flower aspect.—Upright to outward.        -   Flower bud.—An average of 2.2 cm in length and up to 5 mm in            width, narrow obovate in shape, color; NN155C, top 76C,            immature tube 145B, immature calyx 146B, tinged 200A,            glabrous surface.        -   Flower form.—Explanate with tubular base.        -   Flower size.—An average of 2.8 cm in diameter and 2.4 cm in            depth.        -   Petals.—5, self-cleaning, upper surface velvety, lower            surface slightly glossy, outer surface of tube densely            covered with very short soft hairs; average of 0.5 mm in            length and NN155D in color, rotate and moderately            overlapping arrangement, petals are fused 65% into tube,            spathulate in shape, margins entire, obtuse to broad and            slightly retuse, average of 3.6 cm in length (lower 2.3 cm            fused into tube), average of 1.7 cm in width, color when            opening upper side; 75B, broadly margined NN155D, tube 145D,            color when opening lower side; 75B, broadly margined NN155D,            tube 156D, color fully open upper side; 73A, broadly            margined NN155D, tube N77D, color fully open lower side;            75B, broadly margined NN155D, tube 157C to 157D, petal color            fading to 67B, broadly margined NN155D, tube N77B.        -   Calyx.—Campanulate in form, an average of 9 mm in length and            3 mm in width.        -   Sepals.—5, base lower 15% fused, linear in shape, margins            entire, apex narrowly apiculate, an average of 9 mm in            length and 1 mm in width, surface is glabrous and matte,            color; immature upper surface 143A to 143B slightly tinged            200A, immature lower surface 146B tinged 200A, mature upper            surface 144B, mature lower surface color between 144A and            146C slightly tinged with 200B.        -   Peduncles.—Oval in shape, strong, primary an average of 6.8            cm in length and 2 cm in width, secondary an average of 2.6            cm in length and 1.5 mm in width, primary held upright,            secondary held at about a 45° angle, glabrous surface, color            145A.        -   Pedicels.—Oval in shape, strong, an average of 5 mm in            length and 1 mm in width, glabrous surface, held at. an            average angle of 45° (0°=straight on top of peduncle), color            144B.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Gynoecium.—Pistil; 1, 1.8 cm in length, stigma; cleft            (3-parted), 150C in color, style; 1.65 cm in length, 150C to            150D in color, ovary; superior and 143A in color.        -   Androcoecium.—5 stamens, anthers; basifixed and oblong in            shape, 2 mm in length and 160D in color, filaments;            implanted in petal, 5 mm in length, N155B in color, pollen            is low in quantity and 155A in color.        -   Seeds.—None observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant named ‘Verscan’ as herein illustrated and described. 